Update: My Seattle building's compost bin made me rethink everything

Our building manager installed a big shared compost bin in the garage last fall. Everyone was excited, but after three months, it was a disaster. The bin was always overflowing with plastic bags and meat scraps, attracting flies and smelling awful. I realized a central bin for 40 units just doesn't work unless everyone follows the same rules, which they won't. I went back to my small countertop bin and take my own scraps to the community garden every Saturday. It's more work for me, but at least I know it's done right. Has anyone else had a building compost program fail and just gone back to handling it yourself?

2 comments

2 Comments

rosew371mo ago

Found the opposite with our building's program. They gave everyone a small bin and clear rules, plus a volunteer checks it weekly and leaves notes. Took a few months, but most people got it. The key was having someone gently enforce it instead of just hoping.

the_jennifer1mo ago

That idea about gentle enforcement working for most people is interesting, but it hasn't matched my experience. In my last place, even with clear rules and a neighbor checking bins, compliance fell apart after the first few months. People just went back to old habits when the initial attention faded. I've come to believe these programs rely too much on constant volunteer effort that isn't sustainable long-term. Without a real system with consequences, it's too easy for people to slide.

-1